Well the year is wrapping up and it has been a so/so year. Got a new bow at the beginning of the year. Also acquired a new lease. So the year started out pretty good. It was fun having my own land, from being able to run trail cams, thanks covert and Pat, and mineral sites, thanks Tom and Monster Raxx, it was a totally different experience and almost as much fun as hunting. My hunting year started off with turkey season. Luckily in Iowa when you turkey hunt with a bow, you get to hunt every season. Makes it a lot easier. My first set I seen several hens, but no toms or gobbling. 2nd sit was about the same until about 4pm. Was just sitting in the blind messing around on the phone, when out of the corner of my eye I see something run across the field. I look up in time to see my decoy get shredded by a nice big tom. Was able ot get the shot off and after about a 200-300 yd chase through the woods, I got my first turkey. Being my first time turkey hunting and doing it with a bow, I really felt like I accomplished something, and the creed got to draw first blood. After turkey season winded down, there was not a lot to do, just running trail cams and getting things ready for the bh.com get together in June. I was a little bummed a buddy of mine couldn't go with me, so I was not as excited as I should have been. But having went the year before and meeting some really great people and keeping in touch over the last year, I knew it would still be a good time. There was a few new faces there this year, and it was just a really good, laid back time at camp this year, and I really can not wait to go again next year and catch up with every one. Hopefully we get a lot of returns and some new people there. If you have not been able to go, really try to make it, it is a great time, and I guarantee you meet some friends for life. Some of the best group of people I have met. Except for that "Richard: Gutoneforme, stay away from that guy.... After the GTG it was a long, hot, dry summer. Was hearing reports of EHD all around, so that cast a dim glow on the upcoming season. Was steadily getting pictures of tons of does, and several nice bucks on cam. My hopes were high for the coming deer season. Started setting up blinds/stands around then end of Aug. Beginning of Sept. Continued to get pictures of my targets bucks, and even had a new one start showing up around August that really got me excited. He was hitting the bean field right in front of my blind pretty regularly, even some times during the day. So the day finally arrived, opening day. It was a very warm, and slow day. Seen one doe in the morning that just skirted the fence. Then after a break for lunch I was back in stand. Had a decent 2.5-3.5 yr old 8 point walk right in front of me at 8 yds. I would say 130s maybe, would have been a chip shot, perfectly broadside. But knowing I had much bigger deer in the area I let him walk, and he proceeded to walk directly behind me and wind me. That was a little discouraging on my scent proofing techniques. I had a couple more sits that first week, that didn't amount to much. Went out Oct.6th after work for an afternoon hunt because we had a front moving in. Had 2 does sneak in behind me in the late afternoon. Decided I would take one given a chance as they were both nice big does and now fawns. It started out perfect, they came in, I took my time on standing, turning on the camera and getting positioned for the shot. I raise my bow, and instead of taking a nice smooth draw, I jerk and she catches my movement. They blow out of there. So after that i'm sitting in my stand kicking myself in the butt for the rookie mistake. But as luck would have it, it started pouring down rain about 10 mins later so I was kind of glad I didn't shoot her. Got back out on Oct.8th. The day was over pretty fast. Had a nice big doe come in at 745ish with 2 fawns. Normally i'm not big on orphaning fawns, but these fawns were really big and I was sure they could fend for themselves. She walked behind me a couple of times and I was really surprised she did not wind me. She finally calmed down and went to her fawns and gave me a chance to draw. She caught my movement, but did not fully spook, she turned and started to walk to my left and i was ready for the shot. She paused and I sent the arrow perfectly through both lungs. Watched her run off and heard the crash. I was very pumped to have the first deer of the year, and with the creed on the ground. I took most of the rest of October off, think I hunted maybe 1 or 2 days towards the end of Oct. with nothing coming of it. My vacation started on Haloween. It was a gloomy rainy day, and I had bought a tree stand umbrella thanks to Bloodcricks thread about them. I was set up in the stand for an all day sit. Around 1 I just got a feeling I should go sit in my blind. I didn't have any of my ninja gear with me so I decided to stay put. Think I seen one doe and a fork horn. But I did go check the cam I had on my blind before leaving for the day. I seen a deer running off as I entered the field. Get home and throw the card in, and low and behold, one of my shooters was standing in front of my blind with plenty of light left. I was sick. All through my vacation, and all of November, I seen deer on every sit, just no shooter bucks, and no rutting activity. My cam activity had declined drastically. It just was not a fun time. I seen one other possibly shooter on my vacation, came in a last light behind me, but would not respond to calls. So as of now I am still sitting on my buck tag waiting on late season. Normally I go out shotgun season for a doe, but having a full freezer, decided I would take the shotgun season off and recharge my batteries. Sorry for the long read, which I am sure most people will not read, but I was bored and felt like rambling. So now as I look forward to next year. It's gonna be a busy busy year. My dad is retiring and wants to get back into hunting. He has a bad shoulder, so he is going to get a crossbow permit. So it looks like I will be hunting in Missouri next year also. Have not decided if I will turkey hunt it or not as I will be turkey hunting Iowa and Illinois next year if I can draw a tag. I will also get to renew my lease in Iowa. So as it stands now I will turkey/deer hunt Iowa, Deer/maybe turkey hunt Missouri, and Turkey hunt Illinois. I could deer hunt Illinois for a doe, which I may do If want a change of pace. Also looking forward to the get together again, and maybe a few of the deer shows we have around the area, either the Iowa deer classic or the Illinois deer and turkey expo. Will also be shooting a winter archery league at American Outdoors in Mt.Pleasent. Figured I would throw that in in case any one from the area shoots there also. Feel free to post up details of your year and maybe I will read them if they are as long as this post it.... Good luck to anyone hunting late season and still chasing a big boy....
With the exception of the turkey hunting, because I have never tried it, this is almost my season. Even right down to missing the shooter because sat somewhere else against the urges to sit where he showed up. Thanks for sharing and good luck rest of the year.
